Community News - providing readers with the very latest in local news, sport, entertainment and more.
Camera IconCommunity News - providing readers with the very latest in local news, sport, entertainment and more. Credit: Community News

Alert over directory scam

Staff ReporterWeekend Kwinana Courier

The City of Kwinana has received several reports from local organisations that have been targeted by the scam.

Kwinana Mayor Carol Adams said one of the scammers had claimed that the local council authorised the advert on behalf of the business.

‘The City does not endorse or authorise the printing of any corporate directory,’ she said.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

‘Any ‘directory organisations’ which claim we do should be reported to SCAMwatch on 1300 795 995 immediately.

‘The tactics used by these people come across very authentic, but please do not be fooled. In particular, do not accept that you ‘ran an advert last year’.

‘This is a regular claim that is often accompanied by a fake ‘continuance of contract’.’

According to SCAMwatch, businesses receive an offer, often via fax, to list details in a scam online directory.

The offer may aim to lock victims in to an expensive ongoing contract for periods of 12, 24 or 48 months.

Contract fees can be more than $1000 a year.

SCAMwatch encourages business owners to search the name of the directory business to check it is legitimate ” scams can often be detected in this way.

For more information on the scam, visit http://www. scamwatch.gov.au.